Seizing the moment of solace, I moved over to where Rachel stood talking to Dakin. I’d almost reached them when I was intercepted by a thin woman wearing a long black dress. Her dark hair had been dragged back into a tight bun. Her features were pointed and thin, reminding me of a bird. She extended a spindly hand, which I shook gently for fear of breaking it. When she spoke, her voice sounded stern, like a boarding school headmistress.
“Alexander, my name is Sylvia. I am here on behalf of the Coven.”
“Nice to meet you Sylvia.”
“Selene, the head of our Coven wishes to meet you in person. It is customary for all new Chosen. I trust this won’t be a problem?”
“No, no, I would be happy to meet her.” Please not now.
“Excellent, I shall arrange for you to be brought to her within the next few days.”
I breathed an internal sigh of relief. “I look forward to it.”
Sylvia gave a curt nod and then marched out of the room. What a strange woman.
I reached Rachel and Dakin. The Vampire glared at me, top lip curled. He snatched a glass of blood from a passing tray, drained and slammed it back down without once looking away. His eyes flashed sliver. Then he barged past me and headed to the other side of the room.
“Seriously, what is that guy's problem with me?” I asked, jerking a thumb in the direction of the brooding Vampire.
Rachel shrugged. “To be honest I don’t know. He’s always been moody, but he seems to really dislike you. I think the Crimson Twin thing just rubbed it in for him. They are pretty sacred.”
I sighed. “Whatever. Anyway listen I need to ask you a favour, but you can’t tell Gabriella.”
Rachel frowned. “I’m not sure I like the sound of this. But go on.”
I told her about the conversation I had overheard between Faru and Asmund. She listened intently. When I was finished she looked thoughtful and then tapped a finger in the air.
“I think we need Del.”
Rachel dragged him away from a group of female Guardians who were hanging off his every word. When we were sure no one could hear, she got me to repeat my story.
No way buddy,” he said when I’d finished. “You shouldn’t have been eavesdroppin’ in the first place, let alone plannin’ to do it a second time! You heard what Ella said. Faru will tell us when he’s ready.”
I grabbed Delagio’s arm. “Please Del. You don’t understand. How would you feel if something this big involving you was happening and you were being kept in the dark?” I have to know!” His face softened. “But why are you even tellin’ me?” Something seemed to click. “You need my gift.” I shot Rachel a confused look. “Do we?” “You do if you want to get close enough to listen to that meeting.” Delagio placed a hand in his pocket. “I don’t know about this guys. We could get in serious trouble.”
“I know. That’s why I don’t expect you to stay with me. I just need you to get me close enough, however you can. Then I’ll do the rest by myself. If I get caught I’ll say I was acting alone,” I said.
Delagio’s expression was pensive as he mulled over my request.
“ Please.” He sighed. “Fine, I’ll do it.” I let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you.” “But we have another problem. How’re we gonna get outa here without raisin’ any suspicions? After all, it’s your party.”
“I’ve got an idea, hold on.” Rachel weaved over to where Sophia was sitting on the edge of a worn sofa, playing her handheld computer. As usual her tongue was sticking out at the side. Rachel bent down and whispered something in her ear. Sophia nodded. Rachel stood up and threaded back over to us.
“Delagio, follow Alex out half a minute after he leaves.”
“I don’t under-“ I started to say.
I was cut short by the sharp wail of pain followed by the stifled sobs of a child. I snapped my head around to see Sophia sitting on the floor clutching her foot. Midnight was there in seconds. “What’s wrong pint size?” he soothed. “I did something to my ankle. It hurts so much,” she wailed. “Okay hun, don’t worry. We’ll go get you a booster.” He went to lift her up, but she pushed him away. “I want Alex to take me,” she sniffed. Midnight looked at me with the unmistakable expression of someone contemplating murder.
That is going to cost me. I walked over, trying to avoid his skull-boring stare. Gabriella motioned to join me, but I shook my head. “It’s okay, I’ve got this. I’ll take her to the training area in the gymnasium. We won’t be long.” Gabriella smiled, resting a hand on Sophia’s leg. “Okay.”
I felt awful deceiving her, but I knew that this was one thing that we wouldn’t agree on. I scooped the girl into my arms, noticing how she barely weighed anything. Looking around, I noticed that only Chosen remained in the room. All of the Sages had gone — including Faru. I hurried out of the doors. In the Entrance hall, I pressed the elevator and waited.
“It’s okay, you can put me down now,” whispered Sophia. I placed her gently down on her feet. “Rachel told me to hide for a bit. Don’t worry, I’ll tell Midnight what happened so he isn’t mad at you.”
“Thanks Sophia.”
She waved goodbye and vanished down a corridor. The elevator arrived at the same time as Delagio appeared on the balcony. He vaulted off and landed soundlessly next to me.
Inside, he pressed the button for the temple. We raced through the Nexus. As the elevator began to slow, Delagio leaned over and slapped the emergency stop button. We cranked to a halt. He lifted up a hatch in the ceiling and hitched himself up, until he was halfway out. “What are you doing?” I asked his dangling legs. “Checkin’ how much further we need to go.” His reply was muffled. “I don’t follow.” His legs disappeared as if some invisible beast had dragged him into the darkness. “Del?” His face reappeared in the hole.
“Over the decades the Nexus has been redesigned accordin’ to changes in London’s layout.” He slipped deftly back down, his uniform covered in streaks of oil and dirt. “The old passages still exist; the elevators just don’t run along em anymore.”
“So where are we going?”
He raised a finger towards the ceiling. “But I need to get us in the right position first.”
I watched as he moved into the centre of the lift. He held his hands out at his sides and shut his eyes. For a while nothing happened, and then the elevator started to groan and hiss. Slowly it rolled forward like a train pulling out of a station. “Okay, we’re good to go.” He opened an eye and grinned at me. “You may want to hold on. This could get a lil’ bumpy.” I grabbed a rail with both hands. Delagio gritted his teeth together. He took a deep breath and threw his hands upwards. The elevator launched like a rocket.
I held my breath as we flew up the old tunnel. The elevator screamed and hissed as we were bumped from side to side. It was then that I realised with utter horror that we weren’t on rails. The only thing keeping us airborne was Delagio.
He stretched one hand out towards the doors. They cranked apart and I could see the dank outside walls lurching back and forth as we pinballed up the old tunnel. Out of nowhere an old door appeared in a small recess. In a split second it was gone.
“Del! I think that was it!”
The kinesist coiled his hands into fists and the elevator screeched to a standstill. Slowly he lowered us back down until we were level to the door. He nodded a head towards the pouch at his side. “Take one of these. It start’s vibratin’, you’ve got one minute to get back before me and this puppy take a nose dive.”
“Okay,” I said, scooping a silver marble out of the bag. “Thanks Del.”
“Yeah, yeah just get going and for god’s sake don’t get caught!”
I winched the doors open further and leapt into the recess. Wrapping a hand around the handle, I gingerly pushed against the warped wood.
It was pitch black. In the distance, I could hear the unmistakable sound of voices. I ushered the door closed. Lowering myself onto all fours, I crawled forward.
What am I doing? I asked myself as I shuffled deeper into the gloom.